Run

You really rockin with a nigga...

Tahari

Nothing was said as I walked alongside Jade. I gazed down at the broken sidewalk as my stomach intertwined into knots. I bit down on my bottom lip as my mind drifted off to what I overheard after those guys stopped Jade and I. I'm in one of those situations where I know a little too much and it's beginning to eat at me. It's either say something or live with a guilty conscience. As my thoughts clouded my mind, I couldn't help but hear Jade say something. I took my attention from the ground and gazed her way. "My apologies,what did you say?", I queried.

"I asked if you were alright, you've been quiet ever since we left those guys.", she said with a bit of concern.

I nodded as I gently rubbed my arms. "Yeah, yeah, I'm alright, just a lot on my mind, that's all.", I said as I let my hands slip into my pockets.

Jade furrowed her eyebrows. "Are you sure? Did that guy say something wrong to you? What's on your mind?", she questioned giving me her full attention.

I just couldn't tell her...

I chuckled. "Jade no, he didn't say anything wrong to me at all. I'm alright and it doesn't matter", I said followed by a sigh. "I'm alright", I said.

She nodded. "Well it matters to me Hari, if something is bothering you, I'm all ears. You know I'll give you the honest truth, need be.", she said reassuring me.

I nodded. "I thank you for that but I'm alright Jade, honest.", I said.

She threw her hands up in an "I'll leave it alone" manner before speaking once more. "Well, I overheard that guy saying that he'll be expecting a phone call from you.", she said followed by chuckle. "So what's that all about, are you going to give him a chance and talk to him like that?", she queried holding a soft smile.

I pressed my lips together before speaking. "No, I don't plan on giving him a chance, I'm not going to call him neither.", I said snidely. "I don't have time for guys anyway. All that talking and what not, leading into a possible relationship is out the window. I'm just going to focus on graduating and being a better me. I can't have that with a guy distracting me, trying to show me what a real nigga is and carrying on.", I said candidly.

She nodded, showing me that she understood where I was coming from. "I understand where you're coming from but if you already had that at heart, then why did you take his number down? Are you sure he didn't say anything that rubbed you the wrong way?", she queried giving me the side eye.

I sighed. "I took it only so he would let me be and he didn't say anything that rubbed me the wrong way.", I lied through my teeth.

She pressed her lips together before speaking."Okay, well I apologize for pushing the subject.", she stated sincerely before speaking again."So, did you enjoy your day?", she queried changing the subject.

I nodded. "I did, a breath of fresh air, until...", I said trailing off.

Jade gazed at me. "Until what?", she questioned.

I pulled my hands out of my pocket and held them out. "Until I thought about what my mother may say about these hennas I have.", I lied, trying to cover up what I said.

She chuckled. "Come on now, they're temporary. Scrub hard enough, they'll come off.", She said as she kicked a few rocks. "I hope she doesn't come down on you because of that.", she said as she folded her arms.